News

Press release: CMS Announces Special Enrollment Period for Tax Season

Eligible consumers have from March 15 through April 30 to enroll in coverage

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today a special enrollment period (SEP) for individuals and families who did not have health coverage in 2014 and are subject to the fee or “shared responsibility payment” when they file their 2014 taxes in states which use the Federally-facilitated Marketplaces (FFM). This special enrollment period will allow those individuals and families who were unaware or didn’t understand the implications of this new requirement to enroll in 2015 health insurance coverage through the FFM.

For those who were unaware or didn’t understand the implications of the fee for not enrolling in coverage, CMS will provide consumers with an opportunity to purchase health insurance coverage from March 15 to April 30. If consumers do not purchase coverage for 2015 during this special enrollment period, they may have to pay a fee when they file their 2015 income taxes.

Alaska’s Governor Eager To Expand Medicaid

Alaska’s new governor won his election in one of the tightest races in the country, a race that was too close to call even a week after election night. Bill Walker, who ran as an independent (unaffiliated with the Republicans or Democrats), took office on Dec. 1, after campaigning on the promise that he would expand Medicaid as one of his first orders of business.

To make good on that, he’ll have to face a Republican-controlled legislature that hasn’t been willing to even consider the idea.

But for Walker, it’s a no-brainer: Around 40,000 low-income Alaskans would receive health benefits under Medicaid expansion; most of those affected would be childless adults. The federal government would pay 100 percent of the costs until the end of 2016, and after that the state’s share would only slowly increase to 10 percent by 2020…

The day began with a general overview of the ACA and more specifically the American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) special protections and benefits. Also discussed were the AI/AN and Hardship Exemptions. Enrollment Navigators from the Health Care Access Maryland were onsite to help Tribal members learn about their options in the Marketplace and eligibility in Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

“It is part of NIHB’s mission to provide outreach and education to the American Indian and Alaska Native populations on the special protections through the Affordable Care Act. It is important for our Tribal members – especially those living in urban areas – to know their options and benefits in the Health Insurance Marketplaces. On this Tribal Day of Action, NIHB is pleased to bring awareness to Native Americans living in the Baltimore area,” said Dawn M. Coley, Tribal Health Reform Outreach and Education Program Manager with NIHB…